Frostbound

Strong? I never realized that was her last name. I knew she had mentioned it at least once before but I had forgotten. It wasn't like it was something I had to keep at the front of my brain.

I hadn't even spoken to her in years. The last time was right after we returned from the tutorial and resupplied at her city during our journey North.

I wonder what she wants? Here to call in her favor already?

She did give us a hand during our resupply so I technically did owe her a favor. Tracy wasn't largely put out by what she gave us and I would only do what was reasonable. The added fact of what I did during the tutorial made me feel a touch guilty as well. It gave her some wiggle room for her ask.

Still, anything too big was out of the picture. She didn't do that much for us and it wasn't like we would have died without her aid.

My tent and those of my family were surrounding our own campfire so it wasn't hard to slip in and get it ready for guests. I'd had many in the past days so it was already cleaned and appropriate.

A table and chairs were already at the ready from the last meeting I had.

"You can send her in," I told the scout who then ducked out to go get her.

When the tent flaps parted and she stepped in, she looked like a completely different person. Even though it was only two years, her bearing had completely changed.

Never once during the tutorial did she give off a strong feeling of power. She relied on traps and the men around her to survive. That had changed. She wasn't at my level, nowhere close really, but she was up there. About Ashton's level.

It seems she's been working on herself.

It wasn't only the subtle power she now held that was different. She held herself confidently. Her head was high and her clothes stood out against the rest of the people here.